Woods to start practising today
GOLF:Tiger Woods plans to start practising again today and is confident of being fit for the US Masters in three weeks' time. "I'll be there. Don't worry about it," he said yesterday.
Woods limped out of the Cadillac Championship after 11 holes of his final round on Sunday and was relieved to be told it was only a mild strain of his left Achilles tendon. He is entered for the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando, starting next Thursday.
Hamilton hints first four races may shape his future
FORMULA ONE: Lewis Hamilton believes the first four grands prix of a pivotal year in his Formula One career will not only shape his season but potentially his future. In the final year of his €12 million per-season deal with McLaren, Hamilton vowed last month he would make a decision as to whether he stays or goes sooner rather than later.
Crucial to his thinking will be whether McLaren have built a title-challenging car for the season which starts in Australia on Sunday. Another dud, as was the case at the start of 2009 and last year, and Hamilton may well start to seek a different team.
And it is the opening flyaway races – Australia, Malaysia, China and Bahrain – that will go a long way towards determining if the 27-year-old will be in with a chance of glory. “They will definitely play a role to some extent,” he said. “But my decision will be based on more than just the car. When you make a decision on your future it’s the whole package, it’s various things.”
Djokovic and Federer made to work
TENNIS: Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer each needed three sets to reach the quarter-finals of the Indian Wells ATP tournament while Rafa Nadal advanced with a comfortable victory over Alexandr Dolgopolov.
Djokovic held off a strong fightback by Spaniard Pablo Andujar to triumph 6-0, 6-7, 6-2, while Federer recovered from a shaky first set to beat Brazilian Thomaz Bellucci 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. Nadal eased through 6-3, 6-2.
Argentinas David Nalbandian upset sixth seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 and seventh-seed Tomas Berdych was beaten 6-4, 6-0 by Spaniard Nicolas Almagro.
Almagros reward for reaching the last eight at Indian Wells for the first time is a matchup with Djokovic.
Alexandra make history with win
HOCKEY:Senior Schoolgirl's Premier League final –
Alexandra College 2 St Andrews 0
Alexandra College made history yesterday at Grange Road as they completed the first retention of both Leinster Premier League and Senior Cup schoolgirl’s titles.
Strikes from Anna Roopnarinesingh and Hannah McDermott – one in each half – helped them complete a 100-per-cent season in the province.
From an Alex counter, Emily Beatty drew the last defender before slipping to Roopnarinesingh who beat two players before scoring. Beatty was again the creator in the closing stages, finding McDermott at the back post.
They will face the other provincial champions – Kilkenny College, Ballyclare HS, Coláiste Iognaid and Bandon GS – in next week’s All-Ireland championship in Ballyclare.
Jones causes upset as Higgins loses
SNOOKER:Jamie Jones claimed the biggest win of his career as the Welshman knocked John Higgins out of the Betfair PTC Grand Finals yesterday.
The unheralded 24-year-old Neath potter was 3-1 down to Higgins in Galway but turned the match around to triumph 4-3 and send the reigning world champion home after just one match.
Higgins took a tight opening frame and added breaks of 123 and 67 as he moved to just one frame away from victory, but Jones dug deep to draw level.
He then took full advantage of a poor safety from Higgins early in the deciding frame, when the Scot left him an easy red, and stayed composed to build a match-clinching break.
World number 41 Jones said at his press conference: “I really wasn’t expecting it to be honest.”
Jones will tackle Widnes cueman Andrew Higginson in the last 16 today.
Martin responds for New Zealand
CRICKET: Chris Martin struck back for New Zealand with two quick wickets to leave South Africa on 27 for two at the close of play on the rain-hit first day of the second Test in Hamilton yesterday after the hosts' middle order had collapsed.
Martin had South Africa captain Graeme Smith (13) and night watchman Dale Steyn (four) caught by wicketkeeper Kruger van Wyk after the visitors had taken five wickets for no runs in 20 balls to bowl New Zealand out for 185 at Seddon Park.
Alivro Petersen was not out on eight, while Hashim Amla was on two for the visitors at the close of play. Martin’s double strike restored a measure of balance after New Zealand had slumped from 133 for two to 133 for seven in a little over 15 minutes during the final session following some hostile fast bowling from Steyn and Vernon Philander.
Brendon McCullums reckless hook shot to a Steyn bouncer that was over his head after he had battled for more than two hours sparked the collapse.
